Problems Of Immigration In The United States Today
Saffin Manasiya
Government 2305
John M. Osterman
Problems of Immigration
Immigration is a major problem facing in the United States today. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants come to this country every year. Some legally and others illegally. Some come due to their countries economic situation and try to enhance their family’s style of living. Others come to seek out the “American Dream”. Either way they are hurting the economy of the country and causing nationwide problems. Non-English speaking workers take jobs away from the American people because they will work for cheaper wages. Illegal immigrants receive welfare and health care and the money to fund this comes straight from us, the United States citizens. We need to do something about …show more content…
this problem before it gets too late.
As time has passed and millions of immigrants have entered this country the United States still maintains a welcoming attitude towards these people. Desperate to become part of the booming American culture, thousands upon thousands immigrants have begun entering this country every year illegally. Not knowing the laws set forth by the American government, these immigrants enter the country and unnoticeably camouflage themselves into our culture. With the influence of several factors such as large borders and unruly citizens who refuse to uphold the law, the government essentially allows these individuals to enter this country and cause some major problems such as, increase in crime, rape, bring in diseases, economic problems. Ultimately, as the United States government is unable to fully enforce these policies of immigration, illegal immigration is further enhanced and permitted.
The majority of immigrants in the late nineteenth century arrived in the country on boats.
According to most information, the individuals who were denied entry to the United States and immediately sent back to their country were those who were simply deemed criminals, anarchists, or carriers of disease (Eyewitness History 1). These restrictions address one central purpose, and that is the protection and well-being of this nation. In the late 1800s, almost any foreigner has the ability to become a legal resident, or a citizen of the United States. However, the process on how an individual can become a legal resident is much more complicated than it was in years prior. In order to become a temporary or permanent resident, individuals must endure the lengthy application process to receive a visa or green card. Any foreigner living within the United States who does not possess a legal document is considered illegal, and by law should be deported to his or her country. Also any illegal immigrant crossing the border is immediately deported. With a much stricter system of entry and residency, many people argue that today’s government has developed a very efficient and proactive policy of …show more content…
immigration.
Currently, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States stands at an estimated 12 million and rising.
With strict policies in place by the government, how so many undocumented immigrants enter this country is unclear. It is important to understand that there are two different types of illegal immigrants. There are those who actually come to this country legally via visa or green card, but become illegal by over-staying their dates. The other type of illegal immigrant is someone who crosses the border without any legal documents. With the current laws and policies regarding immigration, it is fair to say that the government has a much better and easier time tracking and enforcing laws upon immigrants that were legal turned illegal. However, the other type of illegal immigrant is more difficult to track because the government is ignorant of their presence in the
country.
The negative effect on the United States economy is also due to the rise of the illegal immigrant population. There has long been speculation that these illegal aliens do not even pay taxes. Because the United States immigration system is quite dysfunctional, there is no accurate method of keeping track of these taxes. In that case, if the government cannot even keep track of the immigrants themselves, there are likely a large number of illegal aliens who cheat the system and pay little to no taxes. Not only do a large majority of these immigrants bypass paying taxes, but they also cause an increase in payments of the average taxpayer. Each year, thousands upon thousands of poor and desperate undocumented immigrants enter the country. As more of these poor illegal immigrants that are in this country, the need for government-funded help and social services, such as welfare, education, and Medicare, increases dramatically, along with the amount of money that the average taxpayer must pay. For instance, in California, only an estimated fifty-six percent of its undocumented immigrants pay taxes, therefor, these illegal aliens are costing the average American family an extra $1,200 in federal and state taxes each year (Malanga 1). Ultimately, with the increasing number of illegal immigrants, the Unites States economy has suffered greatly. Illegal immigration is now a burden on the countries fiscal status.
As the United States attempts to regulate illegal immigration by means of law, issues within its own framework undermine the overall enforcement of many immigration policies. With noncompliant citizens and massive borders, the United States is at the mercy of these immigrants, who arrive by the hundreds each day. This country should rethink its attitude towards immigration, as it has proved to cause great harm to this country’s economy, security, and most of all the well-being.
Works Cited
Higgins, Peter. "Open Borders and the Right to Immigration." EBSCOhost. 19 Mar. 2008. Web. 10 Oct. 2009.< http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=6&hid=106&sid=db559a54-ff3d-4b06-905b-8f90020e47ea%40sessionmgr111>.
"Immigration in the Early 1900 's." Eyewitness to History. 2000. Web. 10 Oct. 2009. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snpim1.htm
Malanga, Steve. "How Unskilled Immigrants Hurt Our Economy." City Journal (2006). City Journal. The Manhattan Institute, 2006. Web. 10 Oct. 2009.< http://www.city-journal.org/html/16_3_immigrants_economy.html>.
Mac Donald, Heather. “The Illegal-Alien Crime Wave.” City Journal (2004). City Journal. The Manhattan Institute, 2004. Web. 2 November 2009. <http://www.city-journal.org/html/14_1_the_illegal_alien.html>
Government 2305
John M. Osterman
Problems of Immigration
Immigration is a major problem facing in the United States today. Hundreds of thousands of immigrants come to this country every year. Some legally and others illegally. Some come due to their countries economic situation and try to enhance their family’s style of living. Others come to seek out the “American Dream”. Either way they are hurting the economy of the country and causing nationwide problems. Non-English speaking workers take jobs away from the American people because they will work for cheaper wages. Illegal immigrants receive welfare and health care and the money to fund this comes straight from us, the United States citizens. We need to do something about …show more content…
this problem before it gets too late.
As time has passed and millions of immigrants have entered this country the United States still maintains a welcoming attitude towards these people. Desperate to become part of the booming American culture, thousands upon thousands immigrants have begun entering this country every year illegally. Not knowing the laws set forth by the American government, these immigrants enter the country and unnoticeably camouflage themselves into our culture. With the influence of several factors such as large borders and unruly citizens who refuse to uphold the law, the government essentially allows these individuals to enter this country and cause some major problems such as, increase in crime, rape, bring in diseases, economic problems. Ultimately, as the United States government is unable to fully enforce these policies of immigration, illegal immigration is further enhanced and permitted.
The majority of immigrants in the late nineteenth century arrived in the country on boats.
According to most information, the individuals who were denied entry to the United States and immediately sent back to their country were those who were simply deemed criminals, anarchists, or carriers of disease (Eyewitness History 1). These restrictions address one central purpose, and that is the protection and well-being of this nation. In the late 1800s, almost any foreigner has the ability to become a legal resident, or a citizen of the United States. However, the process on how an individual can become a legal resident is much more complicated than it was in years prior. In order to become a temporary or permanent resident, individuals must endure the lengthy application process to receive a visa or green card. Any foreigner living within the United States who does not possess a legal document is considered illegal, and by law should be deported to his or her country. Also any illegal immigrant crossing the border is immediately deported. With a much stricter system of entry and residency, many people argue that today’s government has developed a very efficient and proactive policy of …show more content…
immigration.
Currently, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States stands at an estimated 12 million and rising.
With strict policies in place by the government, how so many undocumented immigrants enter this country is unclear. It is important to understand that there are two different types of illegal immigrants. There are those who actually come to this country legally via visa or green card, but become illegal by over-staying their dates. The other type of illegal immigrant is someone who crosses the border without any legal documents. With the current laws and policies regarding immigration, it is fair to say that the government has a much better and easier time tracking and enforcing laws upon immigrants that were legal turned illegal. However, the other type of illegal immigrant is more difficult to track because the government is ignorant of their presence in the
country.
The negative effect on the United States economy is also due to the rise of the illegal immigrant population. There has long been speculation that these illegal aliens do not even pay taxes. Because the United States immigration system is quite dysfunctional, there is no accurate method of keeping track of these taxes. In that case, if the government cannot even keep track of the immigrants themselves, there are likely a large number of illegal aliens who cheat the system and pay little to no taxes. Not only do a large majority of these immigrants bypass paying taxes, but they also cause an increase in payments of the average taxpayer. Each year, thousands upon thousands of poor and desperate undocumented immigrants enter the country. As more of these poor illegal immigrants that are in this country, the need for government-funded help and social services, such as welfare, education, and Medicare, increases dramatically, along with the amount of money that the average taxpayer must pay. For instance, in California, only an estimated fifty-six percent of its undocumented immigrants pay taxes, therefor, these illegal aliens are costing the average American family an extra $1,200 in federal and state taxes each year (Malanga 1). Ultimately, with the increasing number of illegal immigrants, the Unites States economy has suffered greatly. Illegal immigration is now a burden on the countries fiscal status.
As the United States attempts to regulate illegal immigration by means of law, issues within its own framework undermine the overall enforcement of many immigration policies. With noncompliant citizens and massive borders, the United States is at the mercy of these immigrants, who arrive by the hundreds each day. This country should rethink its attitude towards immigration, as it has proved to cause great harm to this country’s economy, security, and most of all the well-being.
Works Cited
Higgins, Peter. "Open Borders and the Right to Immigration." EBSCOhost. 19 Mar. 2008. Web. 10 Oct. 2009.< http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=6&hid=106&sid=db559a54-ff3d-4b06-905b-8f90020e47ea%40sessionmgr111>.
"Immigration in the Early 1900 's." Eyewitness to History. 2000. Web. 10 Oct. 2009. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/snpim1.htm
Malanga, Steve. "How Unskilled Immigrants Hurt Our Economy." City Journal (2006). City Journal. The Manhattan Institute, 2006. Web. 10 Oct. 2009.< http://www.city-journal.org/html/16_3_immigrants_economy.html>.
Mac Donald, Heather. “The Illegal-Alien Crime Wave.” City Journal (2004). City Journal. The Manhattan Institute, 2004. Web. 2 November 2009. <http://www.city-journal.org/html/14_1_the_illegal_alien.html>